The tiers consist of a "soft opening" of town areas, an intermediate step and a "2020 normal," as designated by the proposal from Town Manager Stephen Burns, who offered two reasons to begin the soft opening May 18.

"First, I believe our residents are going stir crazy and should be allowed to get back outdoors and into these public spaces for outdoor exercise," Burns wrote. "Second, I think it is important to open these properties, and especially the beaches, before Memorial Day if we're going to give local businesses the chance to survive."

By opening May 18, the town will offer a "trial run before the holiday weekend," he said.

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The soft opening allows residents to recreate on the beaches, including swimming, running, walking, surfing, kayaking, biking and surf-casting fishing.

Board Chair Todd Frederick said the idea was to allow "motion-based activities" and not let people congregate in groups that would violate social distancing protocols enacted by Gov. Janet Mills, which call for at least 6 feet separation and groups of no more than 10 people congregating.

Beachgoers are not allowed to sit on beaches during the soft opening, and umbrellas, chairs and tents are banned, subject to a fine.

Selectmen opted for a "zero-touch" approach, meaning trash was designated as "carry-in, carry-out," use of outdoor showers and water fountains are prohibited. Restrooms remain closed until the intermediate opening slated for June 1.

Selectmen also amended their metered parking delay from June 15 to May 18, which means residents will have to pay for parking along the beaches starting Monday.

Mount Agamenticus trails will reopen partial capacity with the base lot opened completely and the top lot to two-thirds occupancy. The town elected to reserve several spaces in the upper lot for residents-only, also enforced by town and beach parking stickers.

It also allowed residents and vehicles to access Sohier Park, site of the Nubble Lighthouse, but kept the restrooms and gift shop shuttered until June 1.

Other sites such as the Cliff Walk, Fisherman's Walk, Wiggley Bridge and causeway, and kayak launch under Route 103 have also been opened under the soft opening.

Selectmen requested the trustees who operate Ellis Short Sands Park and Hartley Mason Reservation open the spaces to the public.

Finally, the soft opening would allow access to Harbor Beach Road, reopening the road and parking spaces and allowing vehicle and pedestrian access.

While dogs are allowed on the beaches, selectmen voted to keep them on leashes to help maintain walking distances between residents.

"Having dogs loose and running up to people and you having to chase your dog doesn’t help social distancing practices," Police Chief Charles Szeniawski said. "It will be safer to have them leashed."

Selectmen voted to enact the intermediate phase, slated for June 1, to reopen Sohier Park’s gift shop and restrooms and public restrooms at Ellis Short Sands Park, Long Sands Beach, Harbor Beach and Mount Agamenticus.

Finally, on June 15, the proposed "2020 Normal" opening would allow for social-distanced prolonged visits and lounging beach use, expanded parking at Mount Agamenticus and town and school basketball courts to reopen.

While initially thought that lifeguards wouldn’t be hired, selectmen decided lifeguards were essential to maintain the beach safety and will be researching proper safety protocols involving rescue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is about public safety," Selectman Michael Estes said. "If we allow people to swim on our beaches, we have the liability and responsibility to keep them safe and that means hiring lifeguards."

Selectmen also addressed concerns brought up by local businesses during their May 4 meeting regarding attempts to save the summer revenue for local businesses hurting from declining tourist revenue due to COVID-19 closures.

Selectmen moved to help businesses maintain current seating capacities by allowing them to utilize outdoor areas of their properties, and allowed them to use "administratively designated parking spaces" for alternative purposes such as curbside pickup and increasing pedestrian walking space so businesses could use outside spaces for sales.

For businesses to use parking spaces or walkways, they must apply with a form to be determined by the Police Department to maintain safety.

Selectmen further moved to allow one-way travel only on Railroad Avenue from crosswalk to crosswalk and remove on-street parking to allow for pedestrian walkways so businesses could utilize sidewalks and frontage to increase capacity.

York’s emergency order enacted April 2 and extended until June 30 remains in effect, but the town has largely opened many of the previously restricted areas. The most recent amendment allowed the opening of York Community Gardens, town and school athletic fields to families, and Strawberry Island and Scotland Bridge boat launches.

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